Change in ultrasound imaging guidance mode dynamics

Abstract

Method for dynamically changing the ultrasound imaging guidance mode, comprising selecting a predetermined diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110), identifying an operating mode for said system for a first sequence of views, placing said system in the identified operating mode, acquiring images of a target organ using said system in association with the views of the first sequence, detecting, in the acquired images, a feature (140) of the target organ that is matched with a different operating mode and, in response to the detection, displaying on a display screen a recommendation to change the operating mode, placing said system in the different operating mode,and the acquisition of new images of the target organ using said system in association with a different sequence of additional views. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Change in the dynamics of ultrasound imaging guidance mode. Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to ultrasound imaging and, more particularly, the acquisition of ultrasound images.

[0002] Description of the prior art

[0003] Medical imaging refers to the process of creating a visual representation of an internal part of a mammalian body for the purpose of clinical analysis and medical intervention. Medical imaging aims to reveal internal structures hidden by the body's external covering in order to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Medical imaging encompasses several different image acquisition methodologies and corresponding radiological device technologies. Conventional techniques include X-ray radiography, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography or medical ultrasound, endoscopy, elastography, tactile imaging, thermography, medical photography, and functional nuclear imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).Depending on the intended use of the images, medical diagnosis or targeting of specific tissues or a particular organ or a specific part of an organ, different techniques and devices may be preferred for different images.

[0004] Ultrasound imaging, also known as echography, is a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to view three-dimensional structures inside the body of a living being. Because they are captured in real time, ultrasound images also show the movements of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through the blood vessels and tissue stiffness. Unlike X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging does not involve ionizing radiation, which allows for prolonged use of ultrasound imaging without the risk of damaging tissues and internal organs through prolonged radiation exposure.

[0005] To acquire ultrasound images during an ultrasound examination, a transducer, generally called a probe, is placed directly on the skin or inside a body opening. The probe is coupled to an image generation circuit that includes a circuit designed to transmit and receive signals to The probe's destination and origin are measured, and it may include a beam former, although aperture synthetic imaging systems can use retrospective image formation, which reduces the need for beamforming and scan conversion functions. A thin layer of gel is applied to the skin so that ultrasound waves are transmitted from the probe into the body through the gel. The ultrasound image is produced based on a measurement of the reflection of ultrasound waves off body structures. The intensity of the ultrasound signal, measured as the amplitude of the detected background reflection, and the time it takes for the background to travel through the body, provide the information necessary to calculate an image of target body structures.The "Doppler" effect can also be used in ultrasound imaging to measure the speed and direction of fluid flow in body structures (namely, blood).

[0006] Ultrasound imaging allows for several types of scanning modes. These modes interrogate the target using different transducer pulse and image generation techniques to visualize anatomy and function for various clinical purposes. For example, two-dimensional imaging allows visualization of structures in two dimensions. Color Doppler ultrasound imaging provides a color map of blood flow, combined with a two-dimensional image. Pulsed-wave Doppler and continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound imaging provide a spectral histogram of blood flow velocity and amplitude. Stress imaging visualizes tissue elasticity. The three-dimensional mode visualizes structure and blood flow in three dimensions. The use of different scanning modes is important for enabling a comprehensive diagnosis of health conditions.

[0007] Compared to other well-known medical imaging procedures, ultrasound imaging offers several advantages to diagnosticians and patients. First and foremost, ultrasound imaging provides real-time images. Furthermore, ultrasound imaging requires equipment that is portable and can be brought to the patient's bedside. In addition, from a practical standpoint, ultrasound imaging equipment is considerably less expensive than other medical imaging equipment, and as mentioned, it does not use dangerous ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, ultrasound imaging is not without its drawbacks.

[0008] For example, in some cases, an attempt to view a target organ may be incomplete, with key features of the target organ being omitted from the view due to anatomical limitations or incorrect positioning of the imaging transducer. In this regard, with respect to the term "view," ultrasound imaging of a target region of the body can be obtained from a large number of different "views" in using the ultrasound probe. Each view can be obtained by a combination of probe position and orientation, so that depending on the angle of approach of the ultrasound probe, different perspective "views" of the target region will generally be obtained. Generally, depending on the intended use of the images—medical diagnosis or targeting specific tissues or a particular organ or part thereof—a particular view of the target region shown on an ultrasound image may be preferred. Importantly, different views of the same target region produce images emphasizing different anatomical features, so certain views are known to be more likely to produce images of a feature of interest. In addition, different views may also be required to perform measurements that will be used for diagnostic purposes.

[0009] Therefore, depending on the particular feature of interest, the qualified operator must first know the desired view to obtain the best images of the feature of interest. Then, depending on the body part selected for imaging and the desired view, they must know where to initially place the ultrasound probe on the body. The qualified operator must then know how to spatially orient the probe and, finally, where to move the probe to acquire the desired images, including the acquisition of additional views. Generally, the ultrasound imaging operator is guided for the initial positioning, orientation, and movement of the probe by visual feedback provided by the images produced during the ultrasound imaging.Therefore, probe navigation is essentially a manual process consisting of an iteration of trial and error and requires specialized knowledge and expertise on the part of the ultrasound imaging operator, particularly for selecting a viewing path that the probe must follow in order to produce a complete examination.

[0010] Importantly, given the nature of conventional ultrasound imaging, the images obtained of a target area of ​​the body can be of variable quality. More specifically, depending on the operator, the clarity and focal point of a medical image can vary. Furthermore, external factors such as the body's anatomical features can hinder the clarity of key features of the target organ despite correct positioning of the imaging transducer. However, if certain anatomical features can prevent obtaining a quality image of a target area in one view, a different view of the same target area, or even a slightly different target area, is likely to provide higher-quality images of the anatomical features desired by the practitioner. As can be seen, the production of high-quality ultrasound images remains highly dependent on a skilled operator.

[0011] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention remedy the shortcomings of the technique with regard to ultrasound imaging and provide a new and non-obvious method, system, and computer program product for dynamically changing the ultrasound imaging guidance mode. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamically changing the ultrasound imaging guidance mode comprises selecting a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system and identifying an operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system for a first sequence of views stored in the memory as a workflow corresponding to the selected procedure.The method further includes placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system in the identified operating mode and acquiring images of a target organ using the computer system in association with the views from the first sequence of the workflow.Finally, the method includes detecting, in the acquired images, a feature of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system and, in response to the detection, displaying on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system, placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system in the different operating mode whose correspondence with the feature has been established, and acquiring additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound diagnostic computer system in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic of the target organ that requires measurement using a different mode among the operating modes of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system. In response, a different mode among the operating modes is identified in association with the identified measurement. The different mode among the operating modes is then presented as a concurrent mode among the operating modes in order to perform the identified measurement. An example of such a measurement is the velocity of a fluid—namely, the blood velocity in the vicinity of the target organ.

[0014] According to one aspect of the embodiment, the identified operating mode is either a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode or a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode. According to another aspect of the embodiment, the mode A different operating mode is a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode. According to yet another embodiment, the different operating mode is a Doppler-type ultrasound imaging mode, such as color flow Doppler ultrasound imaging, pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound imaging, continuous wave Doppler ultrasound imaging, or tissue Doppler ultrasound imaging. Another possible operating mode is a stress ultrasound imaging mode. According to yet another embodiment, the target organ is a heart, and the characteristic is a velocity at the level of a valvular stenosis that exceeds a threshold value.Finally, according to yet another aspect of the embodiment, the process further includes annotating a digital file storing the additional images acquired with a textual reference to the recommended change in operating mode.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, a data processing system is configured for dynamic switching of the ultrasound imaging guidance mode. The system comprises a computer having memory and at least one processor, a display screen coupled to the computer, an image generation circuit coupled to the computer and the display screen, and an ultrasound imaging probe comprising a transducer connected to the image generation circuit. The system also comprises a dynamic ultrasound imaging guidance progression module running in the computer's memory.The module includes a program code which, when executed by the computer processor, selects an ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the computer's memory, identifies an operating mode for the ultrasound imaging probe for a first sequence of views stored in memory as a workflow corresponding to the selected procedure, places the ultrasound imaging probe in the identified operating mode, and acquires images of a target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe in association with the views from the first sequence of the workflow.

[0016] Importantly, the program code is further activated to detect, in the acquired images, a characteristic of the target organ for which a correspondence has been established with a different operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe, and to respond to the detection by displaying on a computer screen a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe, by placing the ultrasound imaging probe in the different operating mode whose correspondence with the characteristic has been established, and by acquiring additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow.

[0017] Additional aspects of the invention will be partly defined in the following description and will be partly evident from reading the description or may be learned through practical application of the invention. These aspects of the invention will be realized and achieved by means of the elements and combinations specifically mentioned in the accompanying claims. It will be understood that the general description above and the detailed description below are provided by way of example and explanation only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of this description, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are currently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements and instruments shown. In the drawings:

[0020] [Fig.1] [Fig.1] is a schematic illustration of a dynamic mode change process for ultrasound imaging guidance;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic illustration of a processing system data for ultrasound diagnostics configured for dynamic switching of ultrasound imaging guidance mode; and

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a flowchart illustrating a change process dynamics of ultrasound imaging guidance mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Embodiments of the invention provide for a dynamic change in the ultrasound imaging guidance mode. According to one embodiment of the invention, an ultrasound diagnostic computer system is placed in a first operating mode in which images of a target organ are acquired according to a sequence of views in a workflow. During image acquisition, a feature can be detected in the acquired images. A correspondence is then established between the feature and a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system.Thus, in response to the detection of the characteristic, a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system to a different operating mode corresponding to the characteristic has been established is displayed in the ultrasound diagnostic computer system, including a change of transducer used in connection with the acquisition of ultrasound images. Next, the ultrasound diagnostic computer system is placed in a different operating mode and additional images of the target organ are acquired in association with a different sequence of additional views from a different workflow.

[0024] By way of further illustration, [Fig. 1] schematically represents a dynamic mode-switching process for ultrasound imaging guidance. As shown in [Fig. 1], an ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110 is placed in an initial operating mode 160, for example, a two-dimensional imaging mode, such as an ultrasound image acquisition mode B. Then, the ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110 acquires initial images 120A of the target organ according to the initial operating mode 160. An image analysis component 130 of a dynamic mode-switching logic 100 processes the acquired initial images 120A to detect a particular feature 140 in the initial images 120A.In this regard, feature 140 may include a prediction of a pathological state of the target organ, for example, characteristics of the blood flow of the target organ, and the image analysis part 130 may include a convolutional neural network trained to characterize the fact that images contain specific features including the particular feature 140.

[0025] Upon detection of the feature 140, the dynamic mode-change logic 100 establishes a correspondence between the feature 140 and a corresponding operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110. For example, the dynamic mode-change logic 100 may consult a table 150 to identify the recommended operating mode 170, in response to which the dynamic mode-change logic 100 presents on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system 110 an instruction to change the operating mode to switch from the initial operating mode 160 to the recommended operating mode 170, for example a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) transducer image acquisition mode.Table 150 can identify a measurement that should be performed and that requires a different operating mode, and recommend changing the mode to produce images that allow the measurement to be performed. Then, additional images 120B are acquired according to the recommended operating mode 170.

[0026] Once the additional images 120B have been acquired, the initial acquired images 120A and the additional images 120B are included in an ultrasound diagnostic report 180 with an annotation 190 recommending a mode change from the initial operating mode 160 to the recommended operating mode 170. Furthermore, insofar as the image analysis portion 130 of the dynamic mode-changing logic 100 is activated To detect a specific mode in which the acquired images 120A, 120B were acquired, the detected modes are further included in report 180, within annotations 190. Finally, insofar as the image analysis portion 130 of the dynamic mode-switching logic 100 is activated to detect a specific view in which the acquired images 120A, 120B were acquired, the specific views are also further included in report 180, within annotations 190. Thus, a diagnostician examining report 190 will be certain that the required mode switch was performed as a consequence of the detection of feature 140 in the initial images 120A and that the additional images 120B were acquired using a recommended mode 170 with the appropriate views.

[0027] The method described in connection with [Fig. 1] can be implemented in a data processing system for ultrasound diagnosis. By way of more detailed illustration, [Fig. 2] schematically represents a data processing system for ultrasound diagnosis configured for a dynamic change in ultrasound imaging guidance mode. The system comprises a host computing system 210 which includes a computer having at least one processor, memory, and a display screen. The host computing system 210 also includes a data storage means 250. The host computing system 210 is also coupled to an ultrasound imaging system 240 adapted to store in memory ultrasound images acquired by positioning an imaging transducer 230 near a target organ of interest in a mammalian subject and actuation of a beam-shaping circuit 220.In this regard, the imaging transducer 230 may include a multimode phase-shift transducer, or a non-imaging CW Doppler mode transducer, to name just two examples. As such, the ultrasound imaging system 240 can operate in one of a plurality of modes 200, such as those associated with a multimode phase-shift transducer – two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode, Doppler-type ultrasound imaging mode, color flow mapping mode, pulsed wave (PW) mode, and CW mode, also associated with the non-imaging CW Doppler mode transducer.

[0028] The host computer system 210 is coupled so as to communicate with a fixed storage medium (not shown), either local or remote ("cloud"), on which one or more neural networks 260 and a programmatic interface for the neural networks 260 are stored. The neural network 260 is trained to characterize one or more features of the target organ, for example, one or more physical components of the target organ, or the physical performance of the target organ. To do this, images of a specified view of the target organ are acquired by The ultrasound imaging system 240 provides data to the neural network 260, which then accesses the programmatic interface so that the neural network 260 can output the image characterization along with a confidence level for that characterization. The ultrasound imaging system 240 then displays not only the images, but also the characterization, and optionally the confidence level for that characterization, on the display screen of the host computer system 210.

[0029] Furthermore, a second neural network 270 can be trained to characterize guidance instructions concerning the images of the target organ acquired concurrently. In this respect, with regard to a particular view among the views 290, the second neural network 270 is trained to produce recommended guidance to obtain optimal acquisition of images of the target organ for that particular view of the views 290, in relation to the images presented concurrently on a display screen of the host computer system 210. For example, in relation to cardiac imaging, the views 290 may include a parasternal long-axis view, a parasternal short-axis view, an apical two-, three-, four-, or five-chamber view, or a subcostal view, to name just a few examples.To this end, when images of the target organ acquired concurrently for the particular view of views 290 are presented to the neural network 270, the neural network produces a recommended movement or orientation of the ultrasound imaging transducer 230 in order to acquire generated images considered acceptable for the particular view of views 290.

[0030] Importantly, a dynamic mode-changing module 300 is coupled to the ultrasound imaging system 240. The dynamic mode-changing module 300 includes computer program instructions which, when executed in the memory of the host computer system 210, are activated to group together a sequence of different views 290 in the form of a workflow, place the ultrasound imaging system 240 into one of the specified operating modes 200, and, for each of the views 290 in the sequence, retrieve from the data storage means 250 guidance instructions necessary to optimally acquire images for the view 290 that has been selected, according to the operating mode 200 that has been specified, using a corresponding appropriate ultrasound imaging transducer 230.

[0031] The program instructions are further activated to receive, from the neural network 260, during the characterization of images acquired in real time for one of the selected views 250 of a workflow, an indication of a feature of interest, such as the presence of a target organ component indicative of a disease, or the visualized performance of the target organ indicative of a disease. One can For example, consider a threshold blood flow rate through a part of the target organ. In the cardiac context, for instance, the blood velocity through a valve can be an indication of valvular stenosis.

[0032] The program instructions of module 300 are then adapted to correlate the feature to a different one of the operating modes 200 in a table 280, and to select one or more of the views 290. Furthermore, the program instructions of module 300 are activated to retrieve guidance from the data storage means 250 for the correlated view 290 and to display on the host computer system 210's display screen a message recommending a change of operating mode, including the selection of a different ultrasound imaging transducer. Finally, once the program instructions are activated, the retrieved guidance is displayed on the host computer system 210 to facilitate the acquisition of additional images of the target organ using the different ultrasound imaging transducer in the mode 200 that was recommended.

[0033] According to yet another illustration of the operation of the dynamic mode-changing module 300, [Fig. 3] is a flowchart illustrating a dynamic mode-changing process for ultrasound imaging guidance. Starting at block 310, a workflow is selected, including a plurality of different views of a target organ. At block 320, the first of the views is selected for image acquisition of the target organ, and at block 330, guidance instructions for the first view are retrieved from memory to be displayed on a user interface of the ultrasound imaging system.In this regard, guidance instructions can be retrieved from a fixed data storage medium, independently of any image acquired concurrently for the first view, or guidance instructions can be selected based on data provided by a neural network trained to produce guidance instructions for a particular view based on the content of images acquired concurrently for the first view. In either case, at block 340, the guidance instructions are displayed on the user interface of the ultrasound imaging system.

[0034] At block 305, images are acquired in the ultrasound imaging system for the target organ, using a first imaging transducer with the ultrasound imaging system placed in an initial operating mode. At decision block 360, it is determined whether or not there is a particular feature related to the images acquired in real time. For example, the real-time images can be submitted to a neural network trained to classify features such as the presence of a physical component of the target organ indicative of a disease, or The physical function of the target organ is indicative of disease. Examples include the detection of a heart valve condition indicative of disease, or a threshold blood velocity across the valve, also indicative of disease. If the specific feature is determined not to exist in the acquired images, at decision block 370, it is determined whether there are additional views to process in the workflow. If so, the next view in the workflow is selected, and the process is repeated at block 330. Otherwise, the process proceeds to block 390.

[0035] At block 390, in response to a determination that the particular feature has been detected in relation to the acquired images, the feature is correlated to a different operating mode and to a set of one or more views. At block 400, a message is generated on the user interface of the ultrasound imaging system prompting a change of operating mode and, optionally, a change of imaging transducer. Then, at block 410, a guidance sequence for a first view associated with the different operating mode is retrieved, and at block 420, the guidance sequence for the first view of the different operating mode is presented on the user interface for the ultrasound imaging system.Finally, the process returns to decision block 350, in which new real-time images are acquired using the different operating mode and, optionally, the different imaging transducer, and, in decision block 360, it is determined whether additional features are detected in the newly acquired images.

[0036] Then, at decision block 370, if it is determined that no additional views remain to be processed in the workflow, a report is generated including the acquired images, where each image is annotated to indicate a corresponding view and the operating mode used to acquire the image, as well as an indication of the recommendation to change the operating mode. In this way, a diagnostician reviewing the report will not only recognize the detection of the feature giving rise to the recommendation to change the operating mode and, optionally, the image transducer, but will also be certain that the required mode change was made in order to acquire the additional images using the recommended views and the recommended imaging transducer.

[0037] The present invention can be implemented in a system, a method, a computer program product, or any combination thereof. The computer program product may include one or more computer-readable storage media containing computer-readable program instructions intended to cause a processor to execute aspects of the present invention. The computer-readable storage media may be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions intended for use by an instruction execution device. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0038] The computer-readable program instructions described in this document can be downloaded to respective computing / processing devices from a computer-readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network. The computer-readable program instructions can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer or server. Aspects of the present invention are described herein in connection with flowcharts and / or functional diagrams of processes, devices (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention.It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts and / or functional diagrams, and combinations of blocks of the flowcharts and / or functional diagrams, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0039] These computer-readable program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device, create means of implementing the functions / actions specified in the block(s) of the flowcharts and / or functional diagrams.These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can command a computer, a programmable data processing device, and / or other devices to operate in a particular way, such that the computer-readable storage medium on which instructions are stored comprises a manufactured article including instructions that implement aspects of the function / action specified in the block(s) of the flowcharts and / or functional diagrams.

[0040] Computer-readable program instructions can be loaded onto a computer, another programmable data processing device, or another device to cause a series of operational steps to be executed on the computer, other programmable device, or other device to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable device, or other device, implement the functions / actions specified in the block(s) of the flowcharts and / or functional diagrams.

[0041] The flowchart and functional diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of computer systems, processes, and program products according to different embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or functional diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing one or more specified logical functions. In some other embodiments, the functions shown in the block can be executed in a different order than that shown in the figures. For example, two blocks shown consecutively can, in fact, be executed essentially simultaneously, or the blocks can sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved.It should also be noted that each block of the functional diagrams and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks of the functional diagrams and / or flowchart, can be implemented by special-purpose hardware systems that perform the specified functions or actions, or by combinations of computer instructions and special-purpose hardware.

[0042] Finally, the terminology used here is solely intended to describe particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. It will be understood that the terms "includes" and / or "comprising", as used herein, specify the presence of the features, entities, steps, operations, elements and / or components mentioned, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, entities, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0043] The structures, materials, actions, and corresponding equivalents of all means or steps and functional elements mentioned in the following claims are intended to include all structures, materials, or actions for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements, as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been given by way of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form described. Many modifications and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment has been chosen and described to better explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for different embodiments having different modifications as appropriate to the particular use envisaged.

[0044] The invention having thus been described in detail and with reference to its embodiments, it will be quite evident that modifications and variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims below.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for dynamically changing the mode of ultrasound imaging guidance, comprising: - selecting a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure from the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); - identifying an operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) for a first sequence of views stored in memory as a workflow corresponding to the selected procedure; - placing the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) into the identified operating mode and acquiring images of a target organ using the computer system in conjunction with the views from the first sequence of the workflow; - detecting, in the acquired images,of a characteristic (140) of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) and, - in response to the detection, the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110), the placement of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in the different operating mode whose correspondence with the characteristic has been established, the acquisition of additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow,and the annotation of a digital file storing the additional images acquired, with a textual reference to the recommended change in operating mode.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the operating mode comprises: - the identification of a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the organ target that requires measurement using a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); and - selection of the different operating mode as the identified operating mode in order to perform the measurement; and - display of a recommendation to change to the different operating mode on the display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identified operating mode is an operating mode selected from the group consisting of a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode and a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the different operating mode is a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the different operating mode is a Doppler-type ultrasound imaging mode.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the target organ is a heart and the characteristic is a velocity at the level of a valvular stenosis that exceeds a threshold value.

7. A data processing system configured for a method of dynamically changing the mode of ultrasound imaging guidance, comprising: - a computer having memory and at least one processor; - a display screen coupled to the computer; - an image generation circuit (220) coupled to the computer and the display screen; - an ultrasound imaging probe (230) comprising a transducer connected to the image generation circuit; and - a dynamically changing mode of ultrasound imaging guidance module (300) running in the computer's memory, the module comprising program code activated, when executed by the computer's processor, to perform: - the selection of a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure in the computer's memory; - the identification of an operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe for a first sequence of views (290) stored in memory as a workflow corresponding to the selected procedure; - the placement of the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in the identified operating mode and the acquisition of images of a target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in association with the views of the first sequence of the workflow; - the detection, in the acquired images, of a feature (140) of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe;and - in response to the detection, the display on a computer display screen of a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound imaging probe (230), the placement of the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in the different operating mode whose correspondence with the characteristic has been established, the acquisition of additional images of the target organ using the ultrasound imaging probe (230) in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow, and the annotation of a digital file storing the additional images acquired with a textual reference to the recommended change of operating mode.;

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the module is configured to perform the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the operating mode by: - ​​identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ that requires a measurement using a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); and - selecting the different operating mode as the identified operating mode in order to perform the measurement; and - displaying a recommendation to change to the different operating mode on the display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110).

9. System according to claim 7, wherein the module is configured to select the operating mode identified from the group consisting of a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode and a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode.

10. System according to claim 7, wherein the module is configured to select the different operating mode as a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode.

11. System according to claim 7, wherein the module is configured to select the different operating mode as a Doppler-type ultrasound imaging mode.

12. System according to claim 7, wherein the module is configured to identify, in a heart as target organ, a velocity characteristic at the level of a valvular stenosis that exceeds a threshold value.

13. A computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions, the program instructions being executable to perform: - the selection of a predetermined ultrasound diagnostic procedure in the memory of an ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); - the identification of an operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) for a first sequence of views stored in the memory as a workflow corresponding to the selected procedure; - the placement of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in the identified operating mode and the acquisition of images of a target organ using the computer system in association with the views of the first sequence of the workflow;- the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ for which a correspondence is established with a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) and, - in response to the detection, the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110), the placement of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) in the; different operating mode whose correspondence with the characteristic has been established, the acquisition of additional images of the target organ using the computer ultrasound diagnostic system (110) in association with a different sequence of additional views of a different workflow, and the annotation of a digital file storing the additional images acquired with a textual reference to the recommended change of operating mode.

14. Storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform the display on a display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110) of a recommendation to change the operating mode by: - ​​identifying a measurement to be performed based on the detection, in the acquired images, of a characteristic (140) of the target organ that requires measurement using a different operating mode of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110); and - selecting the different operating mode as the identified operating mode in order to perform the measurement; and - displaying a recommendation to change to the different operating mode on the display screen of the ultrasound diagnostic computer system (110).

15. Storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the program instructions are further executable to select the operating mode identified from the group consisting of a two-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode and a three-dimensional ultrasound imaging mode.

16. Storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the program instructions are further executable to select the different operating mode as a non-imaging continuous wave (CW) ultrasound imaging mode.

17. Storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the program instructions are further executable to select the different operating mode as a Doppler-type ultrasound imaging mode.

18. Storage medium according to claim 13, wherein program instructions are further executable for identifying, in a heart as a target organ, a velocity characteristic at the level of a valvular stenosis that exceeds a threshold value.

Images